Federal Judge Orders CTA To Allow Campaign Brochures In Break Rooms

Judge Robert Dow granted the Amalgamated Transit Union's request for a restraining order allowing them to place campaign brochures in employee break rooms leading up to the April 7 runoffs. The union says the CTA previously allowed them to place campaign pamphlets in employee break rooms prior to the labor group's endorsement of mayoral challenger Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.

In a lawsuit filed earlier this week, the union argued that the CTA's refusal to allow them to put anti-Emanuel brochures in employee break rooms was a violation of First Amendment rights. The transit agency argued that Illinois law prohibits political activity at state-agency work places, but the judge agreed with the union's free speech argument.